Method and means for applying additives to industrial gas

ABSTRACT

A device for applying additives to industrial gas comprises a container, and first, second and third conduits providing communication from outside the container to the interior thereof. One of the conduits introduces a fluid gas additive to the interior of the container and another of the conduits introduces fuel gas into the interior of the chamber. The gas is introduced into the container at a point below the level of the fluid gas additive so that the gas percolates upwardly through the additive, thereby causing mixing of the additive with the gas. The third conduit includes an inlet positioned at the upper end of the chamber above the level of the gas additive. This third conduit receives the vapor mixture of fuel gas and fuel additive and carries this vapor mixture to the cutting torch. A valve is associated with the first conduit so as to limit the level of liquid within the container at a predetermined height. A safety valve is also associated with the third conduit to close the third conduit in the event the liquid level rises higher than the opening of the third conduit.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,924,648

Etter [4 1 Dec. 9, 1975 METHOD AND MEANS FOR APPLYING PrimaryExaminer-Alan Cohan ADDITIVES T0 INDUSTRIAL GAS AssistantExaminer-Gerald A. Michalsky [76] Inventor: Berwyn E. Etter, 10355Paradise s g Agent or Flrm zarley McKee Thomte &

Blvd, Treasure Island, Fla. 33740 oor ees [22] Filed: 7 Mar. 17, 1975[57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl 558945 A device for applying additives toindustrial gas com- Related US. Application D t prises a container, andfirst, second and third conduits [63] Continuation of set No 358 005May, 7 1973 providing communication from outside the container abandoneto the interior thereof. One of the conduits introduces a fluid gasadditive to the interior of the container and 52 us. or. 137/3; 137/423;261/124; another of the conduits introduces fuel gas into the 431 4terior of the chamber. The gas is introduced into the [51] Int. Cl. C10J1/20 container at a Point below the level of the fluid gas [58] Field ofSearch 137/3, 391, 423; 239/372; ditive 89 that the gas Pereeletes p ythrough the 261/122, 124; 431/4 additive, thereby causing mixing of theadditive with the gas. The third conduit includes an inlet positioned[56] R f e Cited at the upper end of the chamber above the level of theUN gas additive. This third conduit receives the vapor ITED STATESPATENTS mixture of fuel gas and fuel additive and carries this 654,3787/1900 Barckdall 261/122 X 261/122 X vapor mixture to the cutting torch.valve is associ- 1,899,262 2/1933 Davis :1... 239/372 g i first f as toof 1,974,843 9/1934 Blashfield 261,122 UX liquid within the container ata predetermined height. 2,842,465 7/l958 Harrison 239/372 x A Safetyvalve is also associated With the third Conduit to close the thirdconduit in the event the liquid level FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONSrises higher than the opening of the third conduit. 541,593 7/1922France 239/372 1,276,937 8/1918 McKenney 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figuresl/I/ll/l/l US Patent Dec. 9, 1975 ciency. Many types of additives areutilized, one of such additives being manufactured and sold by FlamexDistributors, Inc., Clearwater, Fla., under the registered trademarkFLAMEX. Mixing ,the additives with the fuel gas in an efficient mannerhas proved to be a somewhat difficult task. In some previous devices theadditive and the fuel gas were placed in a container and the containerplaced in communication with the cutting torch. This procedure requireda huge number of containers or tanks to be employed thereby increasingthe inventory costs of such an operation. Certain improvements to thisprior method of mixing are disclosed .in my co-pending applications,Ser. No. 295,133, filed Oct. 5, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,069 andSer. No. 312,570, filed Dec. 6, 1972, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,805,819.

The present invention contemplates the use of a container which permitsthe propane or fuel gas to percolate upwardly through the liquidadditive, thereby causing the two ingredients to mix and result in avapor mixture which is then carried to the cutting torch. Theimprovement of the present invention has resulted in a forty per centincrease in the cutting speed of one inch steel. Furthermore, during thecutting operation, an increase supply of oxygen is introduced to thecutting torch initially so as to preheat the object being cut. The useof the present invention decreases the oxygen consumption during thispreheat stage by approximately forty per cent. Also, an improved qualityof out has resulted from., the present invention.

Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the provision ofa method and means for applying additives to industrial gas.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of means forcontinuously mixing the additive with the gas so as to eliminate thenecessity for shutting down the cutting torch periodically.

A further object of the present invention is to increase thethoroughness and consistency with which the additive is mixed. with thegas so as to improve cutting efficiency of the torch.

A further object of the present invention is to increase the cuttingspeed of the torch over that previously obtained.

A further object of the present invention is to improve the quality ofcut which the torch provides.

A further object of the present invention is to reduce the oxygenconsumption of the torch during the preheat stage of the cuttingoperation.

A further objection of the present invention is to provide a method andmeans which will accomodate a plurality of cutting torches.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a meanswhich is economical to manufacture and durable in use.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements andcombination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objectscontemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth,specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of .FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral generally designates thecontainer of the present invention. A cutting torch 12 is shown to beoperatively connected to container 10 by means of a mixture conduit 14.Torch 12 includes a nozzle 16 and a body 18. Connected to body 18 aremixture conduit 14, an oxygen conduit 20 and an industrial gas conduit22.

Container 10 includes cylindrical side walls 24, a bottom wall 26 and atop wall 28 which is detachably secured to the remainder of cylinder 10by means of a plurality of bolts 30. Cylindrical side walls 24,. bottomwall 26, and top wall 28 define a substantially airtight chamber 32, andthis airtight characteristic is further enhanced by virtue of gasket 34which is interposed between top wall 28 and the upper edges of sidewalls 24. An additive conduit 36 extends through a sealed fitting 38 intop wall 28 so as to provide communication from the exterior of chamber32 to the interior thereof. Additive conduit 36 is adapted to beconnected to a pressurized source of fluid additive. The additiveispreferred to be a liquid, but other fluid additives would worksatisfactorily so long as they have a weightwhich is greater than airand also greater than the gas with which the additive is to be mixed. Anexample of an additive which may be used by the present invention is theadditive sold by Flamex Distributors, 1nc., Clearwater Fla. under theregistered trademark FLAMEX.

The lower end of additive conduit 36 includes an open end 40 throughwhich the additive may enter into chamber 32. A needle valve 42 isinserted within open end 40and is adapted to close open end 40inresponse to upward movement of valve 42. A yolk or bracket 44 extendsdownward from the lower end'of additive conduit 36. Pivotally mounted tobracket 44 is a float arm 46 having a float 48 on one end thereof. Arm46 is adapted to engage needle valve 42 in responseto upwardly swingingmovement aboutits pivotal axis with respect to bracket 44. Thus, asfloat 48 is lifted upwardly by the level of fluid within container 10,it causes needle valve 42 to be pushed upwardly so as to close the openend 40 of conduit36. The effect of this structure is to limit the levelof fluid within container 10 to a predetermined level. As the fluidrecedes from this predetermined level float 48 reopens valve 42 therebyintroducing additional fluid-into the container. A gas conduit 50 alsoextends through a sealed fitting 52 in top wall 28. Gas conduit 50 isadapted to be connected to a source of industrial gas used for cuttingtorches. An example of such a gas would be propane. Conduit 50 extendsdownwardly into chamber 32 and inheads are shown in the drawings, thenumber of outlet heads which may be used may vary according to choice.

Mixture conduit 14 extends through a sealed fitting 64 in top wall 28and includes an open end 66 on the interior of chamber 32. Open end 66is positioned well above the predetermined level of the fluid withinchamber 32 so that the liquid fluid cannot enter into open end 66. As afurther safety precaution against fluid entering open end 66, a needlevalve 68 having a float 70 attached thereto is inserted within open end66. In the event that the liquid within container 32 rises to theproximity of open end 66, float 70 will also rise thereby causing needlevalve 68 to close opening 66. Thus, float 70 and needle valve 68 providea safety factor which will prevent the liquid fluid from being carriedto the cutting torch in its liquid form.

Conduits 14, 36 and 50 are each provided with a manually controllablevalve 71 which permits the selective manual opening and closing of eachconduit, respectively.

In operation the additive fluid is introduced into conduit 36. The fluidenters chamber 32 through open end 40 of conduit 36 and rises withinchamber 32 until float 48 causes needle valve 42 to close. Then manualvalve 71 of conduit 50 is opened and the industrial gas is permitted toenter conduit 50 under pressure. The gas exits through apertures 62 ofoutlet heads 56 and percolates upwardly through the liquid withincontainer 10. This percolating or bubbling action causes the gas and theadditive to be mixed together into a vapor mixture. When the gas exitsthrough the upper surface of the liquid, it carries certain vaporizedparticles of the liquid with it and begins to rise upwardly toward openend 66 of mixture conduit 14. By virtue of the introduction of gas underpressure into chamber 32, the pressure within chamber 32 is alsoincreased. Consequently, the vapors within chamber 32 are forcedoutwardly through open end 66 of conduit 14 toward cutting torch 12.Outlet opening 60 of conduit 50 provides an overflow for additional gaswhich cannot be vented through aperture 62 of outlet heads 56. Thus, ifmore than one cutting torch is connected to container 10, the mixingprocess can be increased by increasing the amount of gas which isintroduced through conduit 50.

The device provides continuous operation by virtue of the fact that thelevel of the fluid is maintained constant by virtue of float 48 andneedle valve 42. In previous devices it was necessary to use up thefluid within the container and then to stop the cutting operation, openthe container and insert new fluid therein. The present inventionpermits continuous addition of fluid and gas to the container.

The present invention is an improvement over present devices because itpermits greater flexibility in total volume going through device 10, andadditionally provides a more accurately controlled ratio of the compoundconsumed by vaporization.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of itsstated objectives.

I claim:

1. A device of the kind described comprising:

a container having a top, a bottom, and sides forming an enclosedchamber;

a fluid mixture conduit connected to said container and having an inletopening in communication with the interior of said chamber adjacent thetop thereof;

an additive conduit providing communication from a source of fluid gasadditive to the interior of said chamber and having an outlet openingbelow said inlet opening of said mixture conduit;

automatic control means within said container and associated with saidadditive conduit for maintaining said additive at a predetermined heightin said container below said inlet opening of said mixture conduit;

an industrial gas conduit providing communication from a pressurizedsource of fuel gas into the interior of said chamber;

said gas conduit having first outlet means positioned within saidchamber at a point slightly below said predetermined height of said gasadditive but well above the bottom level of said gas additive wherebysaid fuel gas will exist from said outlet means and percolate upwardlythrough said additive;

said gas conduit having second outlet means positioned within saidchamber below said first outlet means for permitting venting of gasoverflowing from said first outlet means;

a safety valve associated with said inlet opening of said fluid mixtureconduit and being adapted to close said inlet opening in response to therise of said fluid beyond a second predetermined height above said firstmentioned predetermined height.

2. A method for applying additives to industrial gas comprising:

introducing a liquid additive into an enclosed container until saidadditive reaches a predetermined level within said container;

introducing industrial fuel gas under pressure into' said containerthrough a conduit having a first outlet below said predetermined leveland a second outlet below said first outlet whereby said fuel gas willexit through at least said first outlet and percolate upwardly throughsaid additive;

drawing off the mixture of additive and fuel gas which percolatesupwardly from the upper surface of said additive,

conveying said mixture away from said container through a fluid mixtureconduit;

sensing the level of additive in said container and automaticallycontinuously replenishing said container with additive whenever thelevel of said additive drops below said predetermined level;

adjusting the ratio of gas and additive in said mixture by varying thepressure at which gas is introduced into said container, percolating gasoutwardly from both said first and second outlets when said pressure isat increased pressure rates, and

percolating said gas outwardly from only said first outlet when saidpressure is at reduced pressure rates.

1. A device of the kind described comprising: a container having a top,a bottom, and sides forming an enclosed chamber; a fluid mixture conduitconnected to said container and having an inlet opening in communicationwith the interIor of said chamber adjacent the top thereof; an additiveconduit providing communication from a source of fluid gas additive tothe interior of said chamber and having an outlet opening below saidinlet opening of said mixture conduit; automatic control means withinsaid container and associated with said additive conduit for maintainingsaid additive at a predetermined height in said container below saidinlet opening of said mixture conduit; an industrial gas conduitproviding communication from a pressurized source of fuel gas into theinterior of said chamber; said gas conduit having first outlet meanspositioned within said chamber at a point slightly below saidpredetermined height of said gas additive but well above the bottomlevel of said gas additive whereby said fuel gas will exist from saidoutlet means and percolate upwardly through said additive; said gasconduit having second outlet means positioned within said chamber belowsaid first outlet means for permitting venting of gas overflowing fromsaid first outlet means; a safety valve associated with said inletopening of said fluid mixture conduit and being adapted to close saidinlet opening in response to the rise of said fluid beyond a secondpredetermined height above said first mentioned predetermined height. 2.A method for applying additives to industrial gas comprising:introducing a liquid additive into an enclosed container until saidadditive reaches a predetermined level within said container;introducing industrial fuel gas under pressure into said containerthrough a conduit having a first outlet below said predetermined leveland a second outlet below said first outlet whereby said fuel gas willexit through at least said first outlet and percolate upwardly throughsaid additive; drawing off the mixture of additive and fuel gas whichpercolates upwardly from the upper surface of said additive, conveyingsaid mixture away from said container through a fluid mixture conduit;sensing the level of additive in said container and automaticallycontinuously replenishing said container with additive whenever thelevel of said additive drops below said predetermined level; adjustingthe ratio of gas and additive in said mixture by varying the pressure atwhich gas is introduced into said container, percolating gas outwardlyfrom both said first and second outlets when said pressure is atincreased pressure rates, and percolating said gas outwardly from onlysaid first outlet when said pressure is at reduced pressure rates.